Stewardship Pays in Missouri
The Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award recognizes the high bar set in Missouri agriculture for the careful and responsible management of the land, natural resources, and animals entrusted to the care of Missouri farmers and ranchers.
2024 Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award
Applications Are Open
Access the Application
To nominate your farm, applicants must submit an application regarding their operation's stewardship practices and ethics, accompanied with up to three letters of recommendation.
Submit Application
Submit the application at the link below (preferred) or mail it to Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, 19171 State Highway 11, Kirksville, MO 63501
Applicants must be submitted or postmarked by June 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding the application or award, please contact info@mofarmerscare.com or reach out to Ashley McCarty at 660-341-8955.
Missouri Farmers Care and partners collaborated with the Sand County Foundation to present deserving farm families the Missouri Leopold Conservation Award from 2017 to 2023.
The Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award will continue the tradition of highlighting the best of examples of land stewardship by Missouri farmers and ranchers.
Cope Grass Farm of Truxton in Montgomery County
2023 Leopold Conservation Award Recipient
Cope Grass Farm of Truxton in Montgomery County is 2023 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award® Program recipient. Cope Grass Farm is a partnership with Harry Cope and his daughter and marketing director Sabrina Cope.
Innovative grazing practices coupled with deep-rooted vegetation keep pastures lush, even during drought. Harry knows the diverse mix of forbs on his farm also yield pollinators, wildlife, and biodiversity. Livestock are also grazed on fields of milo and cover crops. Grazing on fields of standing milo during the winter cuts down on labor and costs of hay production.
As a principle of soil health, incorporating livestock into cropland benefits both the animal and the next crop to be planted. No-till practices help prevent soil erosion on fields. Cover crops of sunflowers, turnips, buckwheat, oats and water.
Missouri Leopold Conservation Award Recipients
Missouri Agriculture Stewardship Award made possible by:
Missouri Corn Merchandising Council, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, MFA, Inc., Missouri Fertilizer Control Board, FCS Financial, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Program, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, The Nature Conservancy in Missouri.